Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, has been selected as one of only six members in the International Awards Committee of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the world’s leading authority on tall buildings.

Alabbar is the first Middle East member to serve on the committee since the inception of the awards in 2002. The committee of experts will choose five ‘Best Tall Building’ awards and two ‘Lifetime Achievement Awards’.

Alabbar said: “It is a privilege to be on the CTBUH Awards Committee, which recognises projects and individuals who make extraordinary contributions to developing tall buildings and the urban environment.

“This is also a tribute to Burj Khalifa which has been recognised as a ‘Global Icon’ by CTBUH – an honour conferred on tall buildings only once in 10 to 15 years. The committee will evaluate tall building project submissions from around the world based on the parameters of aesthetics, functionality and most importantly, sustainability.”